Над пропастью во ржи

           "Openup,chief."

           "Whatfor?"Isaid.God,myoldheartwasdamnnearbeatingmeoutoftheroom.IwishedIwasdressedatleast.It’sterribletobejustinyourpajamaswhensomethinglikethathappens.

           "Let’sgo,chief,"oldMauricesaid.Thenhegavemeabigshovewithhiscrumbyhand.Idamnnearfelloveronmycan—hewasahugesonuvabitch.ThenextthingIknew,heandoldSunnywerebothintheroom.Theyactedliketheyownedthedamnplace.OldSunnysatdownonthewindowsill.OldMauricesatdowninthebigchairandloosenedhiscollarandall—hewaswearingthiselevatoroperator’suniform.Boy,wasInervous.

           "Allright,chief,let’shaveit.Igottagetbacktowork."

           "Itoldyouabouttentimes,Idon’toweyouacent.Ialreadygaveherthefive—"

           "Cutthecrap,now.Let’shaveit."

           "WhyshouldIgiveheranotherfivebucks?"Isaid.Myvoicewascrackingallovertheplace."You’retryingtochiselme."

           OldMauriceunbuttonedhiswholeuniformcoat.Allhehadonunderneathwasaphonyshirtcollar,butnoshirtoranything.Hehadabigfathairystomach."Nobody’strynachiselnobody,"hesaid."Let’shaveit,chief."

           "No."

           WhenIsaidthat,hegotupfromhischairandstartedwalkingtowardsmeandall.Helookedlikehewasvery,verytiredorvery,verybored.